Conditions in our world and听in our gardens are changing, and adaptation is called for. To heighten our awareness and help us address altering conditions, two听local authors have produced helpful guides.
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Resilient Gardens 2016: Climate change, Stress Disorders, Pest Update
By Linda Gilkeson
lindagilkeson.com, 72 pages, $15 plus $5 postage.
This magazine-sized guide will also be听sold at Seedy Saturday events and at Linda鈥檚 talks and workshops.
Resilient Gardens has two parts. The first examines changing weather patterns and听describes resulting stresses and disorders on plants along with practical ways of creating plant resilience in the face of increasing challenges.
Many now-common disorders can be traced to heat and drought stress, which causes problems like bolting to seed, sunscald, catfacing of tomatoes and strawberries, and more. Mulching, shading, wise watering, finding resilient varieties, and altering planting schedules are all听examined as adaptation measures.
The second part of the guide gives new information on increasingly serious pests and diseases such as spotted wing Drosophila (tiny maggots in soft fruits), daylily gall midge and powdery mildew, with recent information on their controls. Included is an update on the various materials available for use as barriers between an insect pest and its target plants.
An extensive Resources and Sources list gives access to further information and helpful products.
Linda will be speaking about Resilient Food Gardens for a Changing Climate at 11:30 a.m. during Victoria鈥檚 Seedy Saturday this weekend.
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The Power of Pulses: Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas and Lentils
By Dan Jason, Hilary Malone and Alison听Mahone Eathorne
Douglas & McIntyre, 208 pages, paperback, $24.95.
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This book will not be widely available in stores until early April, but it is available now at听Seedy Saturday events and through Dan鈥檚 seed company: saltspringseeds.com.
Pulses are legumes harvested for their dried seeds. This book focuses on five that grow easily here. Some are dual purpose vegetables, good eaten fresh or dried.
鈥淪aving the World鈥� is no exaggeration. Growing and eating pulses helps to mitigate major current threats to humanity: climate change, chemical pollution, water and food shortages. They require few inputs.
Pulses are easy to grow organically, without pesticides, and with little or no water. As legumes, they enrich the earth by pulling nitrogen out of the air and bringing it into the soil. Pulses are tiny, nutrient-dense packets of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals. They are fibre-rich. For these reasons and more, the United Nations has declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses.
Growing some of our own pulses has advantages. Most pulses sold have been stored for a while, and as pulses age they shrivel, lose colour and flavour, take longer to cook and are harder to digest.
The five individual chapters devoted to the pulses delve into their rich histories (most are ancient edibles), their types and varieties. There are tips on growing, harvesting, cooking and seed saving.
The 50 recipes concluding the book are accompanied by tantalizing photos. I鈥檒l be trying Pinto Bean Breakfast Tacos, Fava Bean and Artichoke Tagliatelle, and Black Bean Brownies.
Dan Jason will be at Victoria鈥檚 Seedy Saturday this weekend, at the Salt Spring Seeds stall. At 12:45 p.m., he听will discuss The Power of听Pulses.
GARDEN EVENTS
Native plants. The Native Plant Study Group meets Thursday at 7 p.m. in听Room D116 of UVic鈥檚 Maclaurin Building. Syd听Cannings will present Prospecting for听Botanical Gold in the Klondike. Drop-in fee is听$5, students free. Parking cost is听$2.50. NPSG.ca.
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Seedy in Victoria. Victoria鈥檚 Seedy Saturday takes place Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Victoria Conference Centre. The event will feature local and organic seeds, specialty and native plants, a seed exchange, food and garden products, children鈥檚 activities and master gardeners answering questions. Look for tables with books by Dan Jason and Linda Gilkeson. Both authors will speak at the event. jamesbaymarket.com/seedysaturday. Cost is $7, under 16 free.
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Winter pruning. sa国际传媒 Fruit Testers are听holding a Winter Pruning Party on听Saturday, 10听a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Walled Garden at Royal Roads University. Learn about pruning young and old fruit trees, espaliered apples and pears, currants and gooseberries. Bring secateurs. Follow signs to the Mews Carpart for pay parking. Information at 250-818-1836.
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Starting seeds. Dinter鈥檚 Nursery, 2205 Phipps Rd. in Duncan (dinternursery.ca), is offering a听free, drop-in seminar on Starting Seeds on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. A hands-on demonstration on how seeds are started at the nursery.
